Lidl to advance opening hours for all 1,630 French stores

Lidl has announced a change to its operating hours across its 1,630 stores in France. Following a social and economic committee meeting on October 7, 2026, the retailer will move its opening time from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. to provide better commercial clarity and a unified schedule nationwide.

The strategic shift aims to attract early-morning shoppers, particularly targeting customers interested in bakery and pastry products. This move also places Lidl in direct competition with other major retailers such as Intermarché, Carrefour, and Leclerc.

Additionally, the company plans to harmonize closing times at 8:00 p.m. Management stated that the change will not affect the schedules of employees who already arrive around 6:00 a.m., but will instead involve reorganizing tasks and internal operations.